細い
0%
Log in to evaluate your pronunciation.
No feedback yet. Please speak to see your results.
Base i-adjective form ending in 『い』. Describes physical thinness, slenderness, or fineness in texture or detail.
Theme
Two friends, Mika and User, are shopping for clothes at a boutique in Tokyo. Mika is trying on a new dress and asks for User's opinion on the fit.
細い
ほそい
thin / slender / fine
Core Language Building BlocksCore Adjectives
Memory Hook
Imagine a thin, slender thread that's so fine it's hard to see. You whisper, 『細い！』 (hosoi, 'thin / Slender / Fine'). 'Hosoi' sounds like 'ho-so-easy' — it's easy to break because it's so thin!
Cultural Note
In Japan, 『細い』 (hosoi) is often used to describe slender objects like noodles, wires, or people's figures. It can also refer to fine details in art or craftsmanship, such as in calligraphy or traditional crafts.
Forms
Base: 細いBase i-adjective form ending in 『い』. Describes physical thinness, slenderness, or fineness in texture or detail.
Negative: 細くないDrop 『い』 → add 『くない』 (kunai, negative) → 『細くない』 (hosokunai).
Past: 細かったDrop 『い』 → add 『かった』 (katta, past) → 『細かった』 (hosokatta).
Adverbial: 細くDrop 『い』 → add 『く』 (ku, adverbial) → 『細く』 (hosoku).
Comparative: より細いComparative formed with modifier 『より』 (yori, 'more than') + base adjective.
Superlative: 一番細いSuperlative formed with 『一番』 (ichiban, 'number one / Most') + adjective.